Upon learning that a newspaper in New York had inadvertently published his obituary in 1897, Mark Twain—who was still very much alive and in good health—famously said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”The same could be said today for E85 flex fuel. While some critics wrote off E85 years ago as a “dead fuel,” in reality, the blend is alive and kicking. In fact, E85 has never been more popular with drivers of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs).The California Air Resources Board recently reported that a record 118.5 million gallons of E85 were sold in the state in 2023, a 14% increase over 2022 and nearly double the volume of 2021. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Revenue released data in March showing record E85 sales in the North Star State as well, with volumes up 8% over 2022 levels and 38% higher than 2021. And while reliable nationwide data on E85 sales volumes are not available, data from the Energy Information Administration indicates roughly 750 million gallons of ethanol were consumed in blends other than E10 last year; most of that volume was likely E85.So, what is driving the rebirth of E85 flex fuel? The fuel’s resurgence is likely resulting from two compelling consumer benefits: lower carbon emissions and lower prices.Flex fuels offer substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. E85 made from today’s typical corn ethanol cuts lifecycle GHG emissions by 35-40% compared to gasoline. And E85 made from the lowest-carbon ethanol available today can offer reductions of 70% or more, meaning FFVs can provide carbon performance similar to a battery electric vehicle, or better. In the long run, FFVs and E85 offer the only viable pathway for ethanol to realize its potential as a net-zero carbon emissions fuel.E85 also beats gasoline significantly in cost. Recent analysis by the RFA shows that the average retail price of E85 in California in 2023 was $3.17 per gallon, compared to an average price of $5.01 per gallon for E10 gasoline. That’s an average discount of $1.84 per gallon, a 37% cost advantage! Nationwide, E85 was priced about 21% lower than E10 on average, offering significant savings to American families.But affordability is about more than just the cost of the fuel; it’s also about the cost of the vehicle. Today, more than 21 million FFVs are on American roadways, and consumers don’t pay any more for an FFV than they do for a corresponding gasoline-only model. Compare that to the typical $10,000-$12,000 upcharge that exists today for a battery electric vehicle.What about new FFVs? While roughly one in 12 vehicles on the road today is an FFV, it is true that automakers have dramatically reduced production of new FFVs in recent years. Far from being “dead,” however, FFVs appear to be making a comeback. After offering no new FFV models to consumers in model year 2024, General Motors is bringing four new FFV models to dealerships across the country in model year 2025.All of these developments add up to an exciting new opportunity for E85—a fuel that was once “left for dead” by some is now more alive than ever before.Author: Geoff Cooper&nbsp; President and CEO&nbsp; Renewable Fuels Association

2024-03-28 - Dead Wrong About E85 (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

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While some critics wrote off E85 years ago as a “dead fuel,” the blend is alive and kicking. In fact, E85 has never been more popular with drivers of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs), with record sales reported last year in both California and Minnesota.

Dead Wrong About E85

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